NEWARK, NJ — The NJIT women's volleyball team battled UAlbany through four sets Friday night inside the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness & Events Center, but the Highlanders fell to the Great Danes, 3-1.
UAlbany took the opening set, 25-15, hitting .258 with 13 kills. NJIT battled throughout the frame, but the Great Danes used a strong offensive finish to take a 1-0 lead.
The Highlanders responded in the second set with their best offensive performance of the night. NJIT recorded 15 kills while hitting .278 and used a strong finish to earn a 25-21 victory, evening the match at 1-1.
UAlbany regained the lead in the third set, recording 16 kills while hitting .344. The Great Danes pulled away to take the frame, 25-17, moving within one set of closing out the match.
NJIT continued to battle in the fourth set, recording 13 kills and hitting .149. The Highlanders stayed within reach late, but UAlbany closed out the match with a 25-22 victory.
Sophomore Martina Gonzalo Cortes led the Highlanders with 12 kills while hitting .290. Freshman Joaneliz Maisonet added 10 kills and two service aces, while freshman Tereza Motalova recorded eight kills without an attack error and hit .571. Motalova also added five service aces.
Junior Aries Fontaine contributed six kills and four block assists, while Maria Kurnatowska added three kills and five block assists.
At setter, junior Cece Marino led NJIT with 23 assists, while junior Finley McAndrew added 13 assists. Maisonet paced the Highlanders defensively with 12 digs, while sophomore Ela Akay added 12.
Up Next
The Highlanders are back on the road and travel to UMBC on Sunday, the 4th with first serve scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Follow the Highlanders
Keep up with the NJIT women's volleyball team all season long by following on X/Twitter and Instagram (@NJITWVB).
